Closure flange



May 25, 1965 .1. LAURIZIO' CLOSURE FLANGE Filed April 27, 1962 INVENTOR. JEREMIAH LA ue/z/o ATTORNEY.

UnitedStates Patent 3,185,507 CLOSURE FLANGE Jeremiah Laurizio, New Providence, N.J., assignor to American Flange & Manufacturing Co. Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 190,598 6 Claims. (Cl. 285-203) This invention relates to improvements in closure constructions for light weight steel shipping containers and other metallic, or partly or wholly nonmetallic, containers, particularly of the drum type, used for the shipment of various chemical and other products.

Due largely to rapidly rising handling and labor costs, the use of light weight metal and fiber drums truly fitting the. designation of, single trip containers, is becoming increasingly prevalent. Obviously drums which are designed to make a single trip only must be economical enough to justify discarding them at the end of that trip. This goal has been partially attained in the manufacture of such containers through the use of lighter gauge steel and other materials, such as fiber board. Fiber drums are at present commonly manufactured with light weight metal tops and bottoms However, substantial portion of the cost of a finished drum, regardless of the material employed in its construction, is attributable to the closure employed therein. The cost of previously used closures would be out of proportion to the cost of these economical containers. A demand has accordingly arisen for a closure device which can be manufactured and applied in such mannersas to be compatible, cost wise, with the container with which it is to be used.

Applicant has met the foregoing demand by providing a plastic closure flange which, besides providing the economy desired, is easily insertable in a container wall opening without the use of heavy machinery, so as to effeet a structurally sound, leak-proof closure. Furthermore, by the selection of a suitable synthetic plastic material for fabrication of the flange it may be rendered resistant to a wide range of chemicals and therefore, be particularly well suited for use in drums which are either lacquered or fitted with a comparable preformed plastic liner for resistance to chemicals within the same range. Thus the closure, as well as the drum, is made suitable for the shipment of materials such as various chemicals or food stuffs where the contents of the container must be isolated from contact with the container wall material.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive closure flange advantageous for use in single trip drums. Another object is to provide such closure flange which is of light weight.

Another object is to provide novel container wall closure flange combinations.

Still another object is to provide an inexpensive light weight closure flange which will not contaminate the contents of shipping container to which it is applied or be contaminated by the contents thereof.

A further object is to provide a plastic closure flange which will resiliently effect a tight seal about a container wall opening and with sufficient torque resistance to meet acceptable standards.

A more detailed object is to provide a closure flange which can be easily inserted in a lined or precoated container wall without disturbing or damaging said coating.

Further and more detailed objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing proceeds.

In that drawing:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a closure flange in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation partly in section thereof.

FIG. 3 is an elevation partly in section of a closure flange in accordance with the invention positioned ready for insertion in a container wall opening prepared to receive it.

FIG. 4 is a part elevational part sectional view showing the insertion completed.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but with the assembly in reversed position and a closure plug screwed into the flange and a cap seal crimped in place over the assembly.

The closure flange as embodied in this invention is indicated generally at 1 and is shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is contemplated that the flange or bushing be constructed of a relatively light weight resilient material such as polyethylene plastic. However, this is merely exemplary and is not to be construed in a limiting sense. The main parts of the flange 1 comprise a substantially cylindrical neck 2, the inner surface of which is provided with threads 3, a base 4, in the form of a laterally outwardly extending annulus or flange, and a retaining lip or bead 5. Looking at FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the base 4 has a plurality of annular sealing fingers 6, 7, and 8, extending from its upper surface which are designed to make tight leak-proof engagement with the surface of a container wall bordering the opening therein when the flange is assembled with its neck in that openmg.

111 uninserted condition, the base 4 slopes upwardly at an angle to a horizontal plane across the lower surface of the flange as viewed in FIG. -2. From this showing it is also seen that the upper surfaces 6a, 7a, and 8a, of the seal-ing fingers, 6, 7, and 8 are formed parallel to the inclined base 4. The exterior of the neck 2, extending up from the base 4 is polygonal. The restraining lip 5, extending outwardly from the upper end, of the neck 2 has a polygonally' shaped periphery corresponding in configuration to that of the neck 2.

FIG, 2 clearly shows the alignment of the corners '12 and flats 13 formed on the polygonal exterior of the neck. The under surface of the restraining lip 5 is formed as a short horizontal shelf 14 which extends laterally outwardly from the neck. From the periphery of the shelf 14, the upper surface of the lip extends in a convexly curved portion 15, forming the uppermost edge of the flange.

The container head or other wall 20, into which the flange is inserted may, generally speaking, have any configuration best suited for the particular container of which it is to form a part. However, the neck bordering the opening in the container wall and for reception of the flange, must have a particular formation to receive the flange neck while there must also be a flat surface on the container wall extending outwardly from the neck for effective engagement with the flange base 4. Although the flange of the instant invention, as here shown, is designed for application to light gauge steel drum heads, it is also intended for application to container walls of other material of which plastic, fiberglass, or fiberboard are nonlim-iting examples.

The container wall 20 shown in inverted position in FIG. 3 has a polygonal neck 21 formed therefrom bordering an opening therein. The neck 21 has corners 22 and flats 23 of corresponding formation with the corners and flats of the flange neck. The inner surface of the container wall may be provided with a coating or layer of material 24 which serves to prevent contact of the content of the container with the interior surface of the wall. Such protective coatings or layers have come into use in the drum industry for the shipment of chemical and food products where either the container wall or the contents thereof could be contaminated by or contaminate the other. This layer can take the form of a preformed ea liner formed from suitable material of which polyethylene is a nonlimiting example or it can be a lacquer coating applied to the sheet material from which the drum is to be fabricated. It has become a rather common practice to insert in the container wall openings the closure flanges after the lacquer coating or preformed liner has been applied. Consequently, extreme care must be taken to make sure that the protective layer is not fractured or seriously scuffed during the flange insertion since such would obviously render the drum unfit for its intended use.

The flange of the instant invention is particularly well suited for application in the just described situation because, as indicated from the FIG. 3 showing, the flange can be easily inserted in the container wall opening with a minimum amount of force applied to the opening formation. The retaining lip 5, acts as a pilot portion, to start the flange into the opening due to the fact that the peripheral configuration thereof conforms to that of the opening formation. Further, the rounded surface of the lip 5 cooperates with the curved edge surrounding the opening to force the neck 2 to resiliently contract as shown at 26 likewise contracting the retaining lip 5, which is normally of larger diameter than the formation 21,'to fit therein. It can be seen that upon applying pressure in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3, the flange can be forced into the position shown in FIG. 4, wherein the shelf 14, of the retaining hp 5, snaps over the leading edge 27 of the opening formation 21. This view also clearly illustrates how the extending portion 29, of a preformed liner would be tightly gripped between the shelf 14 of the retaining lip 5 and the leading edge 27 of the opening formation 21 so as to prevent any possibility of the liner pulling away from the flange. However, since the flange is of a resilient plastic material it will yield before the liner backed up by metal or other rigid material so will not injure the lining.

In the case of a sprayed on coating the retaining lip 5 would snap directly over the edge 27. This would be true whether the spraying be before or after flange insertion.

FIG. 4 illustrates how the inclined base 4 is resiliently urged, upon insertion, to lie flat in a horizontal plane enabling the upper surfaces 6a, 7a, and 8a of the fingers 6, 7, and 8 to grip the adjacent flat container Wall surface. These three fingers act as a gasket or seal to effectively prevent any leakage between the container wall and the flange. Likewise the tendency of the base 4 to return to its natural inclined position causes the exertion of a strong gripping action on the portions of the opening formation 21 between the base 4 and the retaining lip 5. This arrangement not only provides a permanent leak proof seal, but also has excellent torque resistance due to the matching polygonal surfaces of the flange neck and the opening formation which are brought into engagement with each other upon insertion.

The completed closure as illustrated in FIG. 5 shows the container head 20, reversed into its upright position with a closure plug 30, threadedly engaged in the flange. A cap seal 31, is shown crimped in place over the assembly. This cap seal provides further assurance against leakage and effectively renders the closure tamper-proof. Here also it can be seen that due to the inclination of the fingers 6, 7, and 8 away from the longitudinal axis of the flange, there is a tendency, in the event of any looseness of the flange alone for those fingers to urge the lower portion 28, of the flange neck laterally inwardly. However, when a closure plug i screwed into the flange this portion 28 will be forced later-ally outwardly again causing the sealing fingers to improve their grip on the container wall. It is also to be noted here that the curved surface 15 of the retaining lip 5 acts as a gasket seat which cooperates with the self gasketing portion 32 of the plug 30, to effect a tight seal therewith. The cap seal 31 serving to further compress the gasketing portion 32 about the lip 5.

It is to be understood that since certain changes may be made in the construction set forth and since different embodiments of the invention may be made and with different materials employed therein without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all material contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In container construction, a container wall opening adapted to receive a yieldable resilient, one-piece, nonmetallic bushing formed with a substantially cylindrical upstanding neck, said neck having a polygonal exterior surface configuration and a cylindrical internally threaded opening therethrough for the reception of a closure plug, an annular flange having upper and lower surface portions extending laterally away from said neck at an outward and upward incline from the lower end thereof, a plurality of spaced annular sealing fingers extending upwardly from said flange upper surface portion, and a retaining lip extending laterally outwardly around the other end of said neck.

2. A closure flange as in claim 1, said retaining lip having a matching polygonal configuration to that of said neck, but of a larger size.

3. In container construction, a container wall formed with an opening therein and formed with a gasket engaging surface portion therearound a neck formed from said wall around said opening and extending perpendicular to said gasket engaging surface, a yieldable, resilient, onepiece, non-meta1lic bushing received within said opening, said bushing being formed with a substantially cylindrical upstanding wall having a cylindrical opening therethrough for the reception of a closure plug, a flange extending laterally on an outward and upward incline around one end of said cylindrical wall, said flange having a plurality of spaced annular sealing fingers extending upwardly therefrom to provide an eifective gasket between said flange and said gasket engaging surface portion of said container wall, and a retaining lip extending laterally outwardly around the upper periphery of said neck, said bushing being pressed into said opening so that said inclined base is resiliently urged into a position flush with said gasket surface portion of container wall and said retaining lip engages the upper exposed edge of said neck.

4. In container construction as in claim 3, said neck having a polygonal configuration and said cylindrical Wall of said bushing having a polygonal exterior of the same size and configuration as said neck so that said bushing wall lies tightly within said neck.

5. In container construction as in claim 4, said lip having a polygonal configuration mated to that of said cylindrical wall, but of a larger size, the resilient nature of the bushing allowing said lip to be displaced inwardly so as to pass through said neck.

6. In container construction, a container wall formed with an opening therein, a polygonal neck formed from said wall and extending upwardly therefrom around said opening, a yieldable, resilient, one-piece, non-metallic bushing received within said opening, said bushing being formed with a substantially cylindrical portion having a polygonal exterior surface of the same size and configuration as said neck and being formed with a threaded opening therethrough for reception of a closure plug, an annular flange having upper and lower surface portions extending laterally away from one end of said neck, sealing means integrally formed on said upper flange surface, and a retaining lip extending laterally outwardly around the opposite end of said cylindrical portion from said flange and having a polygonal configuration mated to that of said neck, but of larger size so that, due to the resilient nature of said bushing, the retaining lip is pressed into and through the opening and is snapped 2,889,156 6/59 Dearing 220-39 over the exposed edge of the neck. 2,909,228 10/59 Connors.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,131,201 10/56 France.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 D 2,771,221 11/56 Hammond et a1 22O 63 TH1 4R0N E. CONDON, Przmary Exammer. 2,784,865 EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner.

3/57 Rieke 215-248 

1. IN CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION, A CONTAINER WALL OPENING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A YIELDABLE RESILIENT, ONE-PIECE, NONMETALLIC BUSHING FORMED WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL UPSTANDING NECK, SAID NECK HAVING A POLYGONAL EXTERIOR SURFACE CONFIGURATION AND A CYLINDRICAL INTERNALLY THREADED OPENING THERETHROUGH FOR THE RECEPTION OF A CLOSURE PLUG, AN ANNULAR FLANGE HAVING UPPER AND LOWER SURFACE PORTIONS EXTENDING LATERALLY AWAY FROM SAID NECK AT AN OUTWARD AND UPWARD INCLINE FROM THE LOWER END THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF SPACED ANNULAR SEALING FINGERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID FLANGE UPPER SURFACE PORTION, AND A RETAINING LIP EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY AROUND THE OTHER END OF SAID NECK. 